Psalm 42 10

Psalm 42:10 kjv

As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God?

Psalm 42:10 nkjv

As with a breaking of my bones, My enemies reproach me, While they say to me all day long, "Where is your God?"

Psalm 42:10 niv

My bones suffer mortal agony as my foes taunt me, saying to me all day long, "Where is your God?"

Psalm 42:10 esv

As with a deadly wound in my bones, my adversaries taunt me, while they say to me all the day long, "Where is your God?"

Psalm 42:10 nlt

Their taunts break my bones.
They scoff, "Where is this God of yours?"

Psalm 42 verses

Psalm 42 10 Meaning

Psalm 42:10 profoundly expresses the Psalmist's severe spiritual and emotional agony. This distress is caused not by physical injury, but by the relentless and mocking verbal assaults of adversaries. Their piercing question, "Where is your God?", serves as a direct challenge to the very foundation of his faith, making his profound spiritual pain feel like a bone-deep, mortal wound. This incessant taunting reflects the adversaries' disbelief in God's power, presence, or His active care for the psalmist.

Psalm 42 10 Context

Psalm 42 is part of the "Psalms of the Sons of Korah," characterized by deep longing for God and spiritual anguish. This psalm, often associated with Psalm 43, portrays the soul's intense yearning for God's presence, akin to a deer thirsting for water (Psa 42:1). The psalmist, likely separated from the Temple and communal worship due to exile or ostracization (Psa 42:4), feels abandoned by God and subjected to constant ridicule. Verse 10 starkly articulates the profound psychological and spiritual torment inflicted by this mockery. Historically, this situation could reflect the experience of an individual in exile, perhaps during the Assyrian or Babylonian captivities, or someone enduring severe social exclusion due to their steadfast faith. The taunt "Where is your God?" was a direct assault on the monotheistic belief in Yahweh's unique power and faithfulness, especially provocative in a polytheistic cultural context where local deities were expected to visibly protect their adherents.

Psalm 42 10 Word analysis

• As with a deadly wound (כְּרֶצַח - kə·re·ṣaḥ):

  • kə- means "like" or "as."
  • reṣaḥ denotes "murder," "slaying," or a "breach." It describes something utterly devastating or fatally violent.
  • This is a metaphor for spiritual suffering, not a literal physical injury.
  • It illustrates the devastating effect of the adversaries' words on the psalmist's inner being.
  • The phrase conveys immense pain, equivalent to a mortal strike, highlighting the deep, destructive nature of the taunt.
  • Polemically, it contrasts the psalmist's perception of this verbal assault as "deadly" with the adversaries' perceived impotence of his God.

• in my bones (בְּעַצְמוֹתָי - bə·ʿaṣmō·ṯāy):

  • bə- means "in" or "among."
  • ʿaṣmōt (עֲצָמוֹת) means "bones."
  • In Hebrew thought, "bones" often signify the deepest core, the very substance, strength, or innermost being of a person (e.g., Gen 2:23).
  • This phrase emphasizes the depth and pervasive nature of the suffering, afflicting the spirit's deepest parts.
  • It implies a profound, debilitating ache that is internal and comprehensive, not merely superficial distress.

• my adversaries (צֹוֹרְרָי - ṣō·wər·rāy):

  • Refers to tormentors, harassers, or those who tightly confine or oppress.
  • Indicates active, hostile, and deliberate opposition.
  • These are not merely casual questioners but individuals actively seeking to cause distress and undermine faith.

• taunt me (חֵרְפ֑וּנִי - ḥêr·p̄ū·nî):

  • Derived from the root ḥārāp̄, meaning "to reproach," "revile," "mock," or "disgrace."
  • Suggests public shaming and disrespectful ridicule.
  • The act of shaming is intentional, designed to provoke and diminish the psalmist.

• while they say to me (בְּאׇמְרָ֣ם לִ֣י - bə·’ōm·rāḵm lî):

  • Indicates the continuous and ongoing nature of their utterance.
  • Emphasizes the direct, personal nature of the verbal attack.

• all the day long (כָּל־הַיּ֑וֹם - kāl-hay·yō·wm):

  • Signifies unceasing, constant, and relentless.
  • Highlights the persistent and oppressive nature of the taunts, denying the psalmist any respite.
  • The repetitive assault amplifies the suffering, continuously eroding the soul's peace.

• "Where is your God?" (אַיֵּ֥ה אֱלֹהֶֽיךָ - ay·yeh ’ĕ·lō·he·ḵā):

  • ayyeh means "where."
  • ’ĕlōheḵā means "your God."
  • This is the core of the taunt, a piercing theological question.
  • It serves as a challenge to God's existence, power, active presence, or faithfulness.
  • It seeks to dismantle the psalmist's fundamental source of hope and security by implying God is absent, uncaring, or powerless.
  • This question is a significant polemic, implying that if God were truly powerful or present, His follower would not be suffering, which contrasts with a pagan understanding of deities linked to their devotees' earthly fortunes.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "As with a deadly wound in my bones": This phrase vividly conveys extreme, internalized suffering. It portrays a soul-crushing agony, a mortal blow felt deeply within one's core, leaving the psalmist vulnerable and debilitated. It illustrates a spiritual affliction that is more profound and pervasive than mere physical pain.
  • "my adversaries taunt me": This highlights both the source and the nature of the torment. It reveals that the suffering is not merely a consequence of circumstances, but an intentional and direct verbal assault orchestrated by hostile forces seeking to undermine the psalmist's faith and trust in God.
  • "while they say to me all the day long, 'Where is your God?'": This group of words details the precise content and ceaseless manner of the taunting. The relentless, pointed questioning of God's presence and power is the ultimate spiritual weapon used by the adversaries, designed to strip the psalmist of hope and divine assurance through a systematic psychological assault.

Psalm 42 10 Bonus section

The internal conflict depicted within the psalmist is a recurring theme in Psalms 42-43. The question "Where is your God?" functions as a public, performative test of God's character and power. In the ancient Near Eastern worldview, a deity's strength and active involvement were often directly correlated with the prosperity or victory of its worshipers. Thus, the psalmist's suffering or perceived defeat would have been interpreted by his adversaries as conclusive evidence of Yahweh's weakness, absence, or non-existence, providing fodder for their polytheistic perspectives. Yet, the psalmist continually confronts this external theological challenge by directing his own soul back to God. This inner monologue signifies a profound spiritual struggle for fortitude against external pressure and theological assault. This intense internal wrestling demonstrates that true faith is often most rigorously exercised not in periods of outward triumph, but during times of doubt, profound pain, and public questioning, making the struggle itself a powerful testament to the reality and resilience of faith.

Psalm 42 10 Commentary

Psalm 42:10 powerfully articulates the devastating impact of spiritual warfare channeled through verbal mockery. The persistent taunt of adversaries, "Where is your God?", lands as a crushing blow, resonating through the psalmist's deepest being, directly challenging the very reality and active presence of God. This profound anguish stems not from physical injury but from the public and relentless assault on his core conviction – his unyielding trust in God's faithfulness and ability to deliver. The imagery of a "deadly wound in my bones" emphasizes that such mockery attacks the spiritual core, seeking to undermine one's identity and hope rooted in the divine relationship. It reveals how questioning God's existence or care constitutes a form of spiritual violence, compelling the afflicted to doubt the very foundation of their faith amidst perceived abandonment. However, even within this deep distress, the psalmist's repeated self-admonition to "Hope in God" (Psa 42:5, 11) provides a resilient counter-narrative, illustrating faith's enduring power even under severe duress. This verse is thus a testament to the intense internal struggles believers face when faith is ridiculed, and God's apparent silence tests their deepest loyalties.